2008 worldcon site selection

[netmouse]

I am torn about what site to vote for for the 2008 worldcon. I know quite a few people working on the Chicago Bid, and I'm sure they can run a terrific con, though I've never been to a Chicago worldcon. But, frankly, I'm leaning toward voting for Denver.

Here's why:

• Denver's a great city. I like the area, and I don't get out there enough
  
• I go to Chicago all the time. And frankly, I'm not all that crazy about it (though it has my favorite skyline in all the world and, yes, they do have good hot dogs.)
  
• Chicago has had a lot of worldcons (this would be their seventh) - I feel for fairness and for the impression we give non-Americans, we should vary where the con is held more than we do.
  
• I like Kent Bloom (chair of the bid). I met him at a smofcon and he seemed both nice and ept. I like people working on the Chicago (and columbus) bids too, but I see them fairly often. I haven't seen Kent in years.
  
• It seems like the bid committee has negotiated a good deal for their hotel and facilities, at least according to their reports
  
• I like the idea of having the convention earlier in August, so as to be before school starts and not conflict with dragoncon. (not that I go to dragoncon, but hey)
  

The Chicago bid web page is more slick. The group has also given themselves more time to bid, and accordingly put more time into it, and they have a theme. But I'm still leaning toward voting for Denver. Anyone want to try to talk me out of it?

Comments

[matt-arnold.livejournal.com]

Spoken like a wealthy person. I am comfortable paying $45 for admission and $90 to split two hotel nights with somebody. That comes to $135 for the whole convention. I go ahead and budget a total of $200 (to deal with the unexpected), per each convention. I find the cost of a Worldcon membership to be savagely offensive to me. It's rumored that Torcon is actually giving away a *&^#% surplus of all that ill-gotten cash. A plane fare on top of that is out of the question. It's the kind of money I spend on a vacation once every ten years or so. It's a testament to how wonderful a Worldcon probably is that I would be willing to attend a regionally-local one at all.

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

All worldcons give away their excess cash, that is how Torcon got some of its surplus, from previous worldcons.

Chicon V gave everyone a $10 rebate.

However you are right, more people will attend if they can drive as opposed to flying. A car is a sunk cost while a plane ticket is an extra expense.
Midwest fans used to drive to west coast worldcons, although there were fewer cons in general back then.